RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 157, 6 July 1931, Page 12

RUGBY.

SECOND ROUND STARTS.

'VARSITY'S--WIN OVER

GRAMMAR.

SURPRISE VICTORY FOR

MARIST.

ALL GAMES REVIEWED.

Rugby football took quite a surprising iurn on Saturday, Grammar started off che second round of the championship by being 'beaten by University, and Marist ?tartled the fans by having an 18-8 win over Ponsonby. The Technical College Old Boys-College Rifles match provided a minor sensation. Three Rifles men were ordered off. .

It was a perfect day for. Rugby. The trig game at : Eden Park-r-Graminar-'Varsity—'provided a drab display in the iirst half, but in the second there was any amount or sparkling play. Manukau had a three-point win over Training College, Technical College Old Boys were three points ibetter than College Rifles.. after the latter had played a good deal of the second spell with twelve men, and Grafton scored a 14—0 win over City. Results were:— University 10, Grammar Old Boys 3. Marist 18, Ponsonby 8. Manukau 6, Training College 3. Technical Old Boys 9, College Rifles 6. Grafton U, City 0. The following table shows the positions (if the teams:— Pts. Ch. Team. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. (irammar 10 7 3 — 126 65 14 vonsonby .... 10 7 3 — 105 81 14 University ... 10 7 3 — 112 61 14 Marist 10 5 3 2 94 72 12 >lanukau 10 4 3 3 64 63 11 Technical .... 10 4 4 2 76 89 10 Training Col. .■ 10 4 5 1 78 84 0 Col. Rifles ... 10 3 6 1 68 93 7 Urafton . . 10 3 6 1 61 83 7 City 10— S 2 44 121 2

UNIVERSITY'S GAME FORWARDS

Realising that a win was their only hope of being anywhere near -.he top of the senior championship table at the end of the season. University forwards settled down and ulayed with rare grit and determination in. iheir match with Grammar. This was the big match of the day and attracted a record crowd for the season to Eden Park. University fully deserved their 10 points to 3 win*

Most of the honours of victory go to the 'Varsity forwards. They gamely stood up io the fierce Grammar onslaught in the first half, and in the ee«ond, when they found that the opposing forwards were fading, they grasped every opportunity witn both hands and fought hard until the end. It was in the second half that the University forwards got a strangle-nolu on the game. There was little of the spectacular in the first half. University had to stand np to smashing Grammar attacks, ana it says much for the determined tackling or their backs that the line was kept safe. Grammar held the territorial advantage in the first spell, mainly through the splendid work of their forwards. Biit no matter how often the forwards fed the ball to their backs, the rearguard was useless in possession. The Grammar back attack was hopelessly weak and one would not have recognised them as the same. set whichmayed so briliantly the previous week. The Grammar backs badly let down their forwards.

It was little wonder, then, that the Grammar forwards tired and faded in the. second well They had frequently paved the way only to see golden 4 opportunities missed The University forwards, lighter man • for man than Grammar, were able to take complete command. Anderson and Barker time after time led the . gallant van in dashes for the Grammar line. D'Autnreau, playing wing-forward, was a super-oppor-tunist and frequently made the play for his backs.

In the University five-eighths line there was sending the ball away with accuracy. The three-quarter line was always dangerous in possession and Milliken at centre was one of the best backs on the held. His kicking was of a high standard. Muchi of Ms work was made possible by the sound different story.

MARISTS SURPRISE PONSONBY.

The season's list of surprises was added to on Saturday, when Maxltta defeated Ponsonby at the Showgrounds by.lß patog to S. The score represented the rim cl side. , ■, The Ponsonby backs at.times attempted m <-ci their machine in action, but there l°a S ° e no teh to their cffo« S : For one thing, Ryan, first hve-cight! s foi .Man&t. played a same out ol the oag. -te Rom Crying Po P e S and did much ll£ defensive work was also good. The ion sonbv inside backs were weak, ana Jamfeson had a day off. Ramsay, on the win" was not handling too -.veil. In tne Sk spell he improved. Hook was not impressive at full-back for Ponsonby. His line-kicking was good, but he was caught too often with the ball and was easl y fooled by Loornb when the latter score £ With the exception of Frankhani, the Ponsonby backs played below form, iSolomon, who received a knock early in the game, was not prominent, but narte up for a lot by the clever try he scored. Tne best of the Ponsonby forwards wore Palmer, Satherley, Newdick and Bunting. Harris at full-back for Marlsts, played -i cood all-round game. His sound work gale is side confidence. Smith, at cent" three-quarter, did well, nnd was ably s - norted by Loomb and Gillespie. Comhar/s the be St . W alsh, the rover, also was prominent On Saturday Hook and Ter?ey. of l'onsonby. played In Marist jerseys. This sort of thin? is not lair to the referee There wab ? a mild demonstration when on one occasion Hook touched down and the crowd, seeing the jersey, thought a try had been scored, and protested when a force down was signalled.

UNINTERESTING GAME

Grafton and City ran themselves to a standstill in a tame display at fcucn Park ou Saturday afteruoon. The former emerged the victors by 14 to nil. The game lacked uting and throughout was most umnterest'ng Grafton were the superior side and were attacking the greater part of the time, j'aton and Farmer were the best of the buck? and they combined well in the fiveOighths lino. The former has improved Kiiice he was moved from fullback, and the latter can always be depended on to play nn elusive game. Fraser played a good roving game, but it was in the forwards that Grafton were supreme. Angy FinlayKon was always at the head of his pack, and at times Hashed into brilliant pieces of work. He scored one try and was the prime mover in another. The other forwards backed him up well, and gave him plenty of support in anything that was doing.

City were very disappointing, and seemed unable to do anything against the Grafton onslaught. Several times they were within an acy oC opening their ncpov.nt but their movements !ac'.:ed finish. Berridge and Stehr showed up on occasions, ['"at the remainder of the backs were very oor. City worked better in the forward [vision, but not, hard enough to hold Irafton, whose supremacy -was never eriously challenged.

MANUKAU'S WIN.

BAD DAY FOR COLLEGE RIFLES

Without having much polish about it, the game between Mamikau Rovers and Train- !, n % c P IIe f e was nevertheless interesting and sternly contested all through. Two penalty goals to an unconverted try gave -Uanukau a win, which they would have been rather unlucky to miss. The game was played on No. 2 field at Eden Park ana it attracted more than the usual number _ of spectators. Students from the Training College were there in full force and the fact that L. K. Heazlewood, who has represented both the North and South Islands, was making his first appearance in an Auckland club game proved an added attraction.

Soon after the start Training College were penalised and Heazlewood put over a fine kick. The teachers

then started to throw the ball about freely alid they drew level when Brainsby went over for a try. The touch down was made between the posts, but Dayies missed the easiest of kicks. There v.iis no further score before half - time. Manukau went great suns in the second half, but it was not until Heazlewood was given another chance 1 with a kick that they regained the lead. Over the closing stages the teachers

did their fair share oil attacking, t>ut tney failed to oven up the points. All eyes were on Heazlewood and although the ex-Southerner did not do anything really .exceptional, he showed himself a first-class club player. His place kicking was deadly and if this is his average form he is likely to help his side win other games before the end of the season. With a dry ball .he is dangerous anywhere inside half-way. Tnrel tried his hand on the wing and although he was inclined to lose position at times he played a useful game. The Stuart brothers were about the best of the backs, the elder drawing the defence cleverly on several occasions. McPberson, the wing-forward, was in every attack and troubled the collegians a lot. Among the forwards McCormick and Wicklund were outstanding. The last named is only a youngster and should have a lot of good football in front of him.

Training College stuck to their guns in good style and never once let up. By keeping well up with the ball they continually harassed the blacks and restricted their operations. The backs were a fairly even lot, but Hamilton mid Baildou did more than their share in the forward business. Crossraan, the wing-forward, was a source of annoyance to the blacks, frequently nipping an attack as it. was about to be launched. Incidentally, the Training College team would do well to secure a few more numbers to wear on their jerseys.

Starting off with a full team, College Rifles finished up with twelve, three having been ordered off by the referee, so it was not surprising that they went down to Technical Old Boys after a hard game by 9 points to 6.. . There was any amount of vigour in the game, but very little science. The forwards were well matched and practically took charge of the game, giving the backs little chance to retrieve their frequent mistakes. Both Kirk and Harris got tnc ball well away to their respective supports, but passing on both sides was wild and very little effective work was done. 'Ihe tust piece of really combined play by the Tech. backs enabled Commons to score. I) Keane failed with the Kick and Halliwell evened up the score with a penalty goal a few m ™nf toe second half, Rifles- were penalised twice In quick succession, and on his second effort D. Keane landed ttfe ball fairly between the posts Play, which had been over willing at times, became rougher, and first Rae and then Hurt were ordered off by the referee. With their numbers thus depleted, Rifles defence failed badly at the first attack, and Brebner got over. Keane failed with the kick. Technical 0.8. 9, Rifles 3. A few minutes later Halliwell kicked a penalty eoal bringing his side within 3 points of the 'opposition. Rifles still had a sportug chance, and their thirteen men were battling hard for the deciding points. However, their case became hopeless when their wing Donald, received attention from the referee, and was ordered off. The game ended about ten minutes later with the score: — Technical Old Boys 9 College Rifles h Mr. Gasparich-was referee.

GRADE GAMES,

SENIOR B. Eden 12, beat 'Varsity B u. Otahuhu 20, beat Parnell 9. Marathon l>s, beat Eoskill 0. SECOND GRADE. Marist 11, beat College Rifles 5. 'Varsity A 21, beat City 0. Panmure 9, beat Marathon 0. Ponsonby 49, beat Northcote 5. Parnell 12, beat College Rifles 9. Grammar Colts 16, beat Newton r>. Otahuhu 3, beat Grafton 0. THIED OPEN. Oratia 2G, beat Hoskill 0. Papatoetoe 11, beat Penrose C. Suburbs 0, drew with Technical Old Boys Howick (>, beat Eden 3. Waireniata 9, beat North Shore 5. Panmure 24, beat 'Varsity 3. THIRD- GRADE INTERMEDIATE. Northcote 11, beat North Shore 0. Marist 3, beat Technical Old Boys 0. Grafton B beat Dilworth Old Boys. 'Varsity -~>, beat Grammar B 6. Manukau S, beat Training College 3: Grammar -13, beat K.N.V.R. 0. Grafton A 19, beat College Rifles 0. FOURTH GRADE. Manukau 6, beat Eden 0. Otahuhu 0, beat Marathon 5. Technical Old Boys 0, beat Grammar's. Papatoetoe 13, beat Northcote S. Parnell -3, beat Manurewa 3. " .•■ • Ponsonby 9, beat Suburbs 3. v Penrose 11, beat Tainaki 3. . Technical Old Boys 19, beat Howick 3. FIFTH GRADE. Technical Old Boys 12, beat Suburbs 0. O.tahuhu 33, beat Panmure 3. SIXTH GRADE. Ponsonby 8, beat Marist Old Boys 0. Eden e, beai Northcote 3. Technical Old Boys 20, beat Manukau 0.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Auckland Grammar 17, beat Mount Albert Grammar 3. Mount Albert A 15, beat Sacred Heart A 0. Technical College A S, beat Takapunu Grammar 3. Sacred Heart A 8, beat Mount Albert A C. Grammar B 6, beat Sacred Heart B 3. Technical College A 8, beat Auckland Grammar A 0. Sacred Heart 32, beat Grammar B 0. JUNIOR BOYS. Senior. Roskill 3, beat Suburbs 0. Intermediate. Eden 21, beat Suburbs 3. Northcote 12, beat Otahuhu 0. Junior. Eden 28, beat Otahuhu 0. Panmure 124, beat City 0.

SOUTH AUCKLAND B REPS.

The team to represent South Auckland against the Auckland B representatives at Eden Park next Saturday is as follows: Full back. G. Winter (Pukekohe) ; threequarters. Stephens (Mauukau), M. Walters (Pukekohe), Coster (Franklin) ; five eighths, (i. Lnwrle (Pukekohe) ; half, Kae (Wiiiukii) : rover, Guise (Puhekohe) ; frout row, Atchison (Manukau), R. Fulton (Pukokohe) ; lock, K. Lee (Franklin) ; side row, Kerebs (Waiuku). Stanford (Waiuku) ; back row, Dunn (Manukau), C. Baker (Franklin). Reserves: Backs, E. Moylo (Waiuku), B. James (Waiuku) : forwards, R. Crosbie (Pnkekohe), Bush (Franklin).

MORRINSVILLE DEFEATS THAMES.

THAMES, Sunday. The representative fixture, Morrinsville v. Thames, drew a large attendance at Rhodes' Park, on Saturday, but the play was not of an interesting nature owing to the large amount of tight play among the forwards which necessitated a lot of scrum work, and by the inside backs being smothered, preventing any opeu play. After a hard struggle, Morrinsville succeeded in scoring three tries to a, converted try by Thames.